I showed these to my grandson – now age 6 – and he said “How do they do that?” Richard, 954

Zaouli is thought to exemplify a “new tradition” in African ritual and ceremonial dance that apparently arose after the end of colonialism and is recognized as such. It is also associated with brightly painted masks that often incorporate snakes linked to the Mami Wata religion of West Africa that was transported to the West (Haiti, Brazil, South Carolina and more.). I found this out after buying a couple of Zaouli dance masks from an Ivorian friend. Today many are carved for sale. Mine show evidence that they were actually danced. This shows the disconnect between authentic and antique in African art.